Tag Archives: bullying and harrassment

Montana Lance was bullied because he had a lisp.

1. The parents of a 9-year-old boy who took his own life at school last year have filed a wrongful death suit against the Lewisville (Texas) Independent School District. Montana Lance’s parents claim the district failed to protect him from bullying and harassment. Montana had a learning disability and a lisp, which led to other students harassing him for being “gay,” according to The Dallas Morning News (subscription required). The federal lawsuit was filed on Friday, the one-year anniversary of Montana’s death. Montana (above) was found hanged in the nurse’s bathroom at Stewart’s Creek Elementary School in the Colony. (Watch video below from WFAA-TV.)

2. Former Cowboys QB Troy Aikman, long the subject of gay rumors, has separated from his wife after more than 10 years of marriage. There’s no word on what led to the separation, and we suppose it’s really none of our business, but we can’t help but wonder. Aikman is set to work the Super Bowl on Sunday for Fox.

The names of gay suicide victims were read during a brief ceremony at the Legacy of Love Monument.

About 100 people gathered on the Cedar Springs strip Sunday night to pay tribute to the many young victims of anti-gay bullying and harassment who’ve taken their own lives in recent weeks.

Turnout was surprisingly strong given that the vigil had been publicized primarily on Facebook. However, the Dallas Voice appeared to be the only media outlet present.

“A Vigil for the Lost,” organized by the DFW Sisters, began in the parking lot of the Oak Lawn library, where the Sisters passed out programs, glowsticks and ribbons. The Subway store on Cedar Springs donated 200 sandwiches.

One of the Sisters was wearing a “Veil of Tears” that was laid over the back of a pickup truck in the parking lot. People were encouraged to use Sharpies to record on the veil anti-gay epithets that have been used against them. Attendees scrawled things like “Faggot,” “Fucking Queer” and “God made AIDS to kill faggots.” The Sisters said the Veil of Tears would be burned following the vigil.

From the library, the mourners walked silently down the north side of Cedar Springs Road, taking up more than a full block at times, to the Legacy of Love Monument at Oak Lawn Avenue. Revelers outside bars on the strip asked what the vigil was about as the marchers walked silently past.

At the monument, the names of youth who’ve committed suicide were read, between refrains of “Stop the Bullying” and “Never Again,” during a brief ceremony. Video and more photos from the vigil are below.